M i a b i . F i l m s » design

Here’s to the Crazy Ones…

Greg — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:22:04 +0000

Simply put, here is the most beautiful “advertisement” I’ve ever seen.

Dreyfuss (Broadcast version)

Steve (even better than the real thing)

reOrder

Greg — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:33:57 +0000

Check it out. On Friday, March 4th, a new exhibit opens at the Brooklyn Museum called reOrder. reOrder is a “space-altering, site-specific architectural installation” created by Situ Studio in Brooklyn. It’s designed as a place for Museum visitors to congregate, relax, view temporary exhibitions, lectures, and, occasionally, see a performance.

I’m dear friends with one of the architects who worked on the fabrication of the exhibit so I’m painfully aware of the blood, sweat, and tears that went into creating this amazing thing. Look at the pictures below and follow the link. It looks like a Super Marios Bros game. It’ll be up for nearly a year so be sure to make a trip to the Brooklyn Museum one of your to-do items.

Hay Bailing Fun

Boardwalk Empire visual FX compilation

Greg — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 22:15:43 +0000

The first season of Boardwalk Empire treated us to an exciting period drama that featured lots of disturbing imagery from prohibition-era violence to Steve Buschemi’s ass. Boardwalk Empire was also stunningly shot show with gorgeous photography and high production values. What is not immediately apparent is just how much of what we were seeing was computer generated. This goes for pretty much everything we see now a days. Everything.

Below is an intriguing compilation of some of the before and after shots from the show, compiled by the design studio that created them and set to that killer opening theme song. Can’t wait for season 2. Enjoy.

Thirst

Greg — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:05:44 +0000

Thirst | 2:01 (2011)

Some things drink water. Other things are water. Most things need water.

The song is Mpls Rock and Roll by Dosh.

Conductor

Greg — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 05:43:42 +0000

This is cool beans. Visual artist Alexander Chen, working at Google Creative Labs created this animation based on 24 hours of the NYC subway system. Each colored line represents, in real time, a departing train. The full size project homepage is over at mta.me. Check it out. And watch your step.

Spaced

Greg — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:53:04 +0000

I’m guilty. I just read this article on Slate. In it, they come down… hard… on people who put two spaces after a period. I’m a major offender of this. This is how I was taught to type. Even now, knowing it’s wrong, I’m still double tapping that spacebar after a sentence. I can’t help myself. It’s burned into my mind. I have no idea how I’m going to correct this.

I blame Mr. Egan. He is the man responsible for teaching me how to type in 6th grade. Blame must fall to him. He should have known that these new things called “computers” were different than typewriters. How was I to know? All I knew is that Emily wouldn’t look at me because I had a mouth full of braces. (I even fought Lee for you, Emily.) I had no time back then to research typography, proportional typesettings, and the like. Look, I know teachers are shaping young minds and they do a thankless job. But come on man, you fucked me up good Mr. E. Think of all the unnecessary movements of the thumb I’ve made throughout my life. It must measure in the hundreds of thousands. Can you get Carpal Tunnel Syndrom in just your thumb?

It’s even worse now. When you’re typing on the iPhone, a double tap of the spacebar creates a period and a single space in whatever you’re writing. So I find myself TRIPLE tapping the spacebar just to get that extra space in there. When I’m doing a quick edit of my writing, one of the things I’ll do is MAKE SURE there are two spaces between sentences. I am beyond reproach. A glass of whiskey can mask the pain, but it can’t make it heal. That’s going to take a deep look inside.

Kids, save yourself from the embarrassment of putting two spaces between sentences. And for god’s sake, save your thumb.

RIP Robert McCall

Advanced Food Service

Greg — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 05:33:38 +0000

Working during the week between Christmas and New Years, at least for me, means cleaning out files and long lunches. During one such lunch, a few collegues and I went around the corner to FoodParc. FoodParc is the future of lunch dining. Quick, easy, and pretty much self-servicing.

You walk into the restaurant (err cafeteria) to find a bright and sterilized atmosphere. White and neon. Like the Korova Milk Bar from A Clockwork Orange. Minus the nude statues and LSD. A human greeter points you to the computer kiosks where you order your food. On the touch screens you are given a choice of several cuisines with the option to highly customize each one. When you are satisfied, slide your credit card through and take your ticket. While it’s unclear whether or not they actually take cash here, it’s definitely frowned upon. A welcome policy. Cash is clumsy, slow, and unsecured. Let’s embrace credits people.

With ticket in hand, you wait at the designated location for your meal to be prepared. A human behind the counter calls your number and gives you your lunch. No waiters. No tipping. A quick turnaround. I am a bit conflicted by this. On one hand, I’m a friend to the waiter/waitress. I’ve been in the trenches. I know what it’s like to deal with the dregs of the Earth while you’re finding your way. At the same time… not having to deal with a cranky post-graduate lazy bastard who would rather be smoking weed then waiting on you is welcome. Or worse, dealing with an overly bubbly and scripted automaton that has been drinking the company kool-aid and revels in his/her flair. Either way, there’s really no sure technique for figuring out which one will spit in your food, so better to take them out of the equation altogether.

There is ample seating for you and your friends to sit down and enjoy your lunch. When you’re done, leave it on the table. A human busboy will take care of it.

None of this is especially groundbreaking. You can find self-order kiosks at Quick Chek. But I do appreciate the way in which FoodParc has organized it. A nifty, interestingly-designed restaurant. An intuitive traffic pattern. And food that is decidedly not bad. The food is cheap. Probably savings passed on by not hiring workers in a recession. The way I see it, you have to start somewhere. If we are indeed going to live in an advanced society, we are going to need advanced food service.

Small Portions

Polish Superiority

Greg — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:54:59 +0000

Don’t mess with the Polish. They’re kicking ass. It’s a bit long, but I love this animation.

No related posts.

Computer-generated imagery

Greg — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:33:54 +0000

This video was completely created on a computer. Seriously. Looks better than a water tentacle.

Ultra-compact Living

Greg — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 05:38:48 +0000

Fuyuhito Moriya, of Tokyo has built his 3-story house on what is generally the size of a single parking space. 30 square meters of real estate. That’s 5 meters by 6 meters. About 16.5 feet by 19.5 feet.

I absolutely find this compelling. Living in that small a space wouldn’t be realistic for me, but… I wouldn’t mind giving it a whirl for a few days. You have to admire the human ingenuity to create something that beautifully effecient.

It all feels very Scifi. Cyberpunk. It brings over-the-top futuristic set design to mind. The stuff I love. There’s something very Brazil about Fuyuhito Moriya’s pad. An over-populated urban center. Humans cramped together. All white like a space station.